Indy Eleven Joins USL for the 2018 Season

By USLSoccer.com Staff, 01/11/18, 10:15AM EST

Share

Strong organization, support will add to rivalries with Louisville, Cincinnati

TAMPA, Fla. – The United Soccer League today announced the addition of Indy Eleven for the 2018 season. Indy Eleven will join Fresno FC, Las Vegas Lights FC, Nashville SC, North Carolina FC and ATL UTD 2 as new additions for the upcoming USL season.

Founded in 2013, Indy Eleven has averaged 9,170 fans per game across the club’s prior four seasons, making it one of the strongest lower-division clubs in North America since its inception. Guided by a strong local ownership group led by Ersal Ozdemir, Indy Eleven claimed its first silverware in the 2016 season, and the club will add another strong organization to a region of the country that also boasts 2017 USL Cup-winner Louisville City FC and FC Cincinnati.

“Today, we are delighted to announce the addition of another tremendous organization to the USL,” said USL Chief Executive Officer Alec Papadakis. “The work that has been done by Owner Ersal Ozdemir and President Jeff Belskus to establish the Indy Eleven in the heartland of America has been incredibly impressive, as has the club’s commitment to its fans and local community. Indy Eleven brings all of the qualities that make a club successful in the USL and will add tremendously to the league’s rivalries in the region.”

“We are excited to begin a new chapter in our club’s history as we join the USL for the 2018 season,” said Indy Eleven Owner Ersal Ozdemir. “The USL’s remarkable growth on and off the field over recent seasons has been impressive to observe. We look forward to helping the league continue that positive momentum as its visibility continues to rise both in the United States and around the world.”

The USL’s tremendous success of 2017 shows no signs of slowing down as the new year begins, with the league’s rising prominence being driven by multiple factors, including record attendance, expansion into exciting new markets for professional soccer, increased sponsorship revenue, greater audience reach through USL Productions and more soccer-specific stadiums throughout the league.

After weeks of focused preparation, the time to shine had arrived for Ottawa Fury FC on Saturday night as it traveled to Charlotte to take on the Independence in the first match of its 2018 USL season.